Final regular season standings: Red Deer (16-0); Medicine Hat (11-5); Mount Royal (11-5); Lethbridge (11-5) Camrose Lutheran (11-5); SAIT (2-6 +6); Grande Prairie (2-10 +2); NAIT (1-6 +7); Grant McEwan (0-8 +6)
The four-way tie for second place prompted the ACAC executive to expand the tourney, adding a quarterfinal.
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Grande Prairie: Mona Borle, Susan Miller, Theresa Northmore, Bev Albinati, Yolland Gagnon, Linda Borstad, Jeannette Turpin, Susan Boisvert, Marg Wright, Judy Bennion, Joanne Dumont, coach Mrs. Peters, manager Rae Ann Courtney, manager Susan Stephenson
Grant MacEwan: Gail Chubb, Shirley Wolfe
NAIT Ookpikettes: Sylvia Allart, Gloria Dille, Sharon Reid, Helen Towne, Teddy Gibbs, Sharon Burris, Carol Bokenfohr, Mario Grzyb, coach Barb Hanson, manager Diane Erickson
SAIT Trojanettes:
In the quarterfinals, the Camrose Lutheran Vikettes spanked the Lethbridge Kodiaks 58-44 as Naomi Erickson scored 18, Mona Knudslien 15, Georgina Tomkow 9 and Helene Coolen 6. The Vikettes led 29-23 at the half. Shirley Yuill led the Kodiaks with 14. Jan Paton added 13 and Shellee Reeder 6. The Kodiaks (coached by Ray Stoddard) also included Doreen Gurney, Brenda Lezarick, Val Charteris, Nancy Jensen, Joan Greenwood, Sherie Hirsche, Kathie Smith, Shirley Lehto.
In the semis, held in Red Deer, the Medicine Hat Kudus dispatched the Mount Royal Kittens 32-27 as Faith Rostad scored 10, Donna Kato 7 and Twyla Bettis 6. Kudu point guard Donna Kato repeatedly broke the Kittens press to set up teammates for layups. Lori Craig led the Kittens with 8. Gay Dowhaniuk added 8. The Kudush hit 14-49 from the floor, while the Cougars were 12-69. The Kittens also included Julie Bevan, Jo-Anne McDonald.
In the other semi, the Red Deer Queens dusted the Camrose Lutheran Vikettes 53-33 as Laurie Martin scored 17, Jan Brassard 8, Brenda Smith 6, Bonnie Anderson 6, Bev Smith 5, Mary-Ann Cote 5 and Kathy Webber 4. Queens coach Terry Burns led the Red Deer Advocate that “I was very pleased with the way the bench came through. I went to everyone and Bonnie and Brenda did an excellent job. We looked a little tight, especially offensively but our defence was good. I think after the strong first half, they let up a little. We didn’t pull further away in the second half.” The Queens led 32-12 at the half. Helene Coolen led the Vikettes with 6. Marge Metfield added 6, Naomi Ericksen 6 and Mona Knudslien 6.
In the bronze medal match, the Mount Royal Kittens edged the Camrose Lutheran Vikettes 38-36 as Lori Craig scored 12 and Michelle Courouble 10. The Kittens led 26-14 at the half. Georgina Tomkow led the Vikettes with 14. Helene Coolen added 6. Camrose Lutheran benched starters Mona Knudslien and Dallas Hurlburt for unexplained reasons. The Vikettes also included Naomi Erickson, Marge Metfield.
In the final, the Red Deer Queens whipped the Medicine Hat Kudus 50-32 as Laurie Martin scored 11, Kathy Webber 11, Brenda Smith 10, Jan Brassard 8, Bev Smith 4 and Mary-Ann Cote 4. Faith Rostad led the Kudus with 16. Donna Kato added 8, Holly Franz 4 and Twyla Bettis 4. Queens coach Terry Burns told the Red Deer Advocate that it was “the best present of all” on his birthday. “The girls worked hard all season …. Our defence was the key. I knew if we controlled them defensively, we’d get enough to win. They are a very good club and it seems when they play us, they come up big. You can’t let any of them roam, especially Rostad.”
The bronze medalist Mount Royal Kittens: Lori Craig; Gay Dowhaniuk; Julie Bevan; Jo-Anne McDonnell; Michelle Courouble;
The silver medalist Medicine Hat Kudus: Faith Rostad; Carol Sauter; Holly Franz; Twyla Bettis; Donna Cato; Terryl Rostad; Bonnie Shaufele; Michelle Teirault; Laura Scott; coach Carol Lien
The gold medalist Red Deer Queens: Jan Brassard; Laurie Martin; Kathy Webber; Brenda Smith; Bev Smith; Mary-Ann Cote; Bonnie Anderson; Sharon Haugen; coach Terry Burns